The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has detected two illegally operating dyeing units at Lakshmi Nagar and Angeripalayam areas during raids conducted over two days ending on Tuesday.

Both the units were found discharging effluents indiscriminately into the open in violation of the Madras High Court directives asking the dyeing units to adhere to the zero liquid discharge (ZLD) norms in the effluent treatment process.

The practice of washing the dyed fabrics in River Cauvery still remains unchecked in the district, adding more pollution to the river water that is already too dirty and becoming unfit for human consumption.

The units have been carrying out the practice with much impunity and the authorities here have not initiated any serious efforts to deter them. Many units resort to the practice of washing the toxic dyes and dirt from the fabrics in the river as it is much cheaper and it involves less trouble.

Almost three decades after deadly gases spewed out of the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, the Union Cabinet has finally approved the proposal to airlift 350 tonnes of toxic waste from the defunct pesticide factory site to Germany for safe disposal.

Tuesday's Cabinet decision comes after attempts to dispose of the waste in several Indian plants were vociferously opposed by nearby residents. The Central government will pay Rs. 25 lakh to German firm GIZ to remove the waste.

The recurrence of large-scale fish death in the Periyar river has left environmentalists and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officials a worried lot.

The situation assumes importance in the wake of the ongoing trawling ban when the demand for freshwater fish is at its peak. According to environmentalists, after May 3, there have been over 18 instances of large-scale fish death in the Periyar. “Fish death has become common in Eloor. Though the phenomenon is usually seen in summer and was expected to stop with the onset of monsoon, it has not.

Survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy and some non-government organisations (NGOs) have decided to appeal in the second circuit court of appeals against the US court summary judgment which ruled that neither Union Carbide nor its former chairman, Warren Anderson, were liable for environmental remediation emanating from one of the world's worst industrial accidents.

Interestingly, the state government, which had earlier promised to be an intervener in the case has done nothing so far, claims activists. Even after the recent judgement, the state government, reportedly, has made no announcement on whether it would be on the side of the victims who are fighting for justice.

PCB clueless on source of dumping of chemicals

About 2.48 crore litres of effluents generated by nearly 55 industrial units in Eloor and Edayar are let out into the Periyar River daily after primary treatment, against the prescribed norm of ‘zero discharge’ by industries to prevent pollution of rivers. According to the official data available with the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, there are 270 industrial units in the Eloor and Edayar region.

The police on Friday arrested a person who was reportedly found operating an unauthorised textile processing unit and dumping untreated effluents into water sources, based on a complaint from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

A team of officials from the TNPCB found a person running illegal textile processing units in Periyasemur area a few days ago and letting out untreated effluents into Pichakkaranpallam Odai, a water course in the town.

A New York federal court has dismissed all claims by Indian plaintiffs against Union Carbide Corp.

PCB clueless on source of illegal dumping of chemicals

About 2.48 crore litres of effluents generated by nearly 55 industrial units in Eloor and Edayar are let out into the Periyar River daily after primary treatment, against the prescribed norm of ‘zero discharge’ by industries to prevent pollution of rivers. According to the official data available with the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, there are 270 industrial units in the Eloor and Edayar region.